Mr Trump’s team has also struggled to agree on a legal strategy, with some keen to accuse the Justice Department of prosecutorial misconduct, while others believe they can win the case the traditional way, sources told the Washington Post.

Those to turn down the plumb role reportedly include David O. Markus, who last month defended Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, who was acquitted by a federal jury of lying to the FBI.

Lawyer Benedict Kuehne is thought to have approached about the role. He was charged with alleged money laundering and obstruction of justice in 2008. The charges were dropped in 2009.

Jon Sale, a Florida lawyer who worked on the Watergate prosecution team, turned down a position on Mr Trump’s team last year.

“Without engaging in hyperbole, it’s arguably the biggest case in the world,” Mr Sale told the Washington Post. “But the cons are illustrated by three of his four lawyers quitting in the last few weeks. He needs a good Florida lawyer with an impeccable reputation who is very experienced in this.”

South Florida lawyer Philip Reizenstein, said while “no experienced lawyer handles a case out of town without a good local counsel… many lawyers appear to be making a calculated decision that the prestige that goes with representing a former president is not worth the nearly inevitable attack on their reputation in the media”.